NASA successfully launched the Artemis II mission, marking the first manned mission to the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972.
The 322-foot Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lifted off at 6:35pm ET (22:35 GMT) on Wednesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, sending the Orion crew capsule on a 10-day journey.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsat the end of the list
Although Artemis II will not land on the moon, it will fly a “free return” orbit around it to prove that the spacecraft can support crews on future missions.
The idea is to land on one of Earth’s natural satellites again on Artemis IV in 2028.
“We have a really good moon,” said Reid Wiseman, a NASA astronaut serving as mission commander, five minutes after launch. “We’re getting to it.”
Here’s what we know:
What happened?
The Artemis II mission successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts on a historic journey to orbit the moon, the first manned mission beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years.
The launch followed shortly, as engineers worked through a few technical issues. Teams closely monitored the rocket during fueling due to hydrogen leaks that had delayed missions in the past, but no major leaks were found on launch day.
Engineers also addressed last-minute problems involving battery sensors and the rocket’s flight-immobilization system, a key safety mechanism used to destroy the rocket if it goes off course, before aborting the liftoff mission.
The 32-story rocket rose in the evening in front of large crowds gathered near the launch site. Now the crew is on a mission that will take them around the moon and back to Earth.
The launch was scheduled for March 6, and on March 6, a hydrogen leak prompted NASA to return the rocket to its vehicle assembly facility for inspection.
It was originally planned for November 2024, but NASA announced a delay due to technical research, especially with Orion’s heat shield.
Who is part of the Artemis II mission?
Three of NASA’s astronauts are veterans of Earth orbit science missions to the International Space Station, while Canada’s only human to orbit the moon and back is a space shuttle.
- Reid Wiseman, 50, manager: A NASA veteran and former International Space Station commander leads the Artemis II mission. A pilot turned astronaut, he has deep leadership and aviation experience.
- Victor Glover, 49, pilot: The US Navy space shuttle is the first Black Man to be assigned to a lunar mission and flew with SpaceX Crew-1.
- Christina Koch, 47, mission specialist: The record holder for the longest solo space flight by a woman at 328 days is the discipline of most space travel and has expertise in scientific missions and deep space.
- Jeremy Hansen, 50, missionary: The first Canadian to walk on the moon was a former fighter pilot. His presence represents an international collaboration to explore deep space.
When is the job due in the month?
If the mission goes as planned, the capsule is expected to reach the moon around April 6, the sixth day of the mission.
The Orion spacecraft will fly around the moon, reaching its closest approach before beginning its return trip to Earth, on April 10, 2026, expected to explode.
What is the plan for the next 10 days?
The Artemis II mission is expected to last about 10 days and follows this general schedule:
1-2 days around the Earth: The crew will spend their first to two days in high Earth orbit testing the spacecraft’s systems.
Once those checks are complete, Orion’s propulsion system will perform a “translunar injection”.
A translunar injection is an important maneuver performed by the Orion spacecraft system. Occurring after the crew completes their first systems check in high Earth orbit, this maneuver pushes the spacecraft out of Earth’s orbit and puts it on a direct path to the moon.
3-4 days translunar translunar: When they visit the moon in the next few days, the scientists will continue to monitor the Orion system.
The spacecraft will then pass through the moon on a “free return” path, a strategic path that naturally moves the capsule back to Earth without requiring any further maneuvering.
Day 5 lunar area of influence: Orion enters the moon’s gravitational pull, which is stronger than Earth’s.
Astronauts will spend the first few hours of the day testing their spacesuits, including practicing how quickly they can put them on, pressurize them and strap their seats.
Day 6 by lunar plane: This is the day the crew flies a month.
The spacecraft makes its closest approach, about 4,000-6,000 kilometers (6,450-9,650km) above the surface of the moon.
Day 7-9 Return journey: After the flight, Orion is still on its way back to free. The crew conducts deep space science, including medical testing with programs such as ARCHER.
Day 10 Re-entry and explosion: Orion separates from the service module and re-enters Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of 25,000mph (40,230km/h). The plot ends with a huge explosion in the Pacific Ocean.
What is NASA’s next mission?
Artemis III is the next mission and is currently scheduled for 2027.
It will include the Orion spacecraft stationing in Earth orbit at least one of NASA’s lunar landers, either Blue Origin’s Blue Moon system or SpaceX’s Starship.
The purpose of the docking station is to show how people sitting on the ground will collect astronauts in orbit before taking them to the moon.
#long #Artemis #reach #moon